Polysaccharide and bacterial fermentation process for its preparation

ABSTRACT

A process for producing a heteropolysaccharide by a bacterial fermentation procedure in which a new species of bacteria is incubated in a fermentation medium which contains a carbon source, preferably a hydrolyzed starch, a source of magnesium ions, a source of phosphorous, a source of nitrogen and water with the incubation taking place at a temperature of about 28° to about 35°C. The heteropolysaccharide produced by the above fermentation process. A thickened aqueous media containing an effective quantity of the heteropolysaccharide to thicken the media.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 197,941, filed Nov. 11, 1971, now abandoned.

It is known that heteropolysaccharides can be produced by certain microorganisms. Some of such heteropolysaccharides function as hydrophilic colloids and because of their viscosity properties and rheology have been used as thickening agents for aqueous systems. One known method of obtaining such heteropolysaccharides is by fermentation of an appropriate nutrient medium with certain Xanthomonas organisms. Cf. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,020,207, 3,256,271.

As with other fields of technology, research has continued with the objective of discovering new heteropolysaccharides having useful properties as thickening, suspending and/or stabilizing agents. It is an object of this invention to provide a new heteropolysaccharide having these desirable properties. It is another object to provide a method for making this new compound. A still further object is provision of formulations containing our new heteropolysaccharide as a thickening or suspending or stabilizing agent. Other objects of the invention will become evident from the ensuing description of this invention.

The present invention pertains to a novel heteropolysaccharide which is produced by the action of a bacteria on a selected carbon source. Further, the invention pertains to a novel process for producing a heteropolysaccharide by bacterial fermentation of a selected carbon source under controlled conditions. The heteropolysaccharide of this invention is a high molecular weight polysaccharide containing primarily carbohydrate residues and a minor amount of protein. It is sometimes referred to as a "gum" but it is believed that the heteropolysaccharide terminology is more accurate and precise. In the following description of our invention, it will sometimes be referred to as Heteropolysaccharide 10.

This novel compound may be prepared by fermentation of a suitable nutrient medium with a hitherto undescribed organism which has been named Erwinia tahitica. A restricted deposit of this organism employed in making our heteropolysaccharide was made with the American Type Culture Collection on August 11, 1971 under Accession No. ATCC 21711. Under the conditions of deposit, the culture will be freely available to the public upon issuance of a United States patent on the present invention, and is to be released to any person authorized by the Commissioner of Patents to receive it under Rule 14 of the Patent Office Rules of Practice.

The bacterium employed in our process is a novel bacterium that was isolated from a Tahitian soil sample. Thirty grams of the soil sample were added to 300 ml. of sterile San Diego tap water to form a mixture which was placed on a reciprocating shaker. After mixing in this fashion for approximately 60 minutes, a loopful of the soil solution was streaked onto YM agar plates. The YM (Yeast Malt) agar was formed by adding to 1,000 ml. of distilled water 41 gms. of a mixture containing 3 parts by weight of a yeast extract, 3 parts by weight of a malt extract, 5 parts by weight of a peptone and 10 parts by weight of dextrose (mixture supplied by Difco Laboratories, Inc., Detroit, Michigan) together with 20 parts by weight of agar. The YM agar plates were incubated at 30°C. for 48 hours. After incubation, the plates were examined and the slimy colonies were transferred to fresh YM agar plates. After further incubation for 48 hours at 30°C., the cultures were purified by subculturing onto YM agar plates. The purified cultures were finally transferred onto YM slants. The cultures may be maintained in the lyophilized state.

An air-dried film of a 24-hour old culture grown in E-1 medium was stained by the method of Gram (Manual of Microbiological Methods, Society of American Bacteriologists, McGraw Hill, New York, New York, 1957, page 16), and was found to be gram negative. The E-1 medium contained 5 gms of potassium acid phosphate, 0.1 gm of magnesium sulfate, 0.9 gms of ammonium nitrate, 0.5 gms of Promosoy 100 (an enzymatic digest of soybean meal sold by Central Soya Comemurgy Division), 30 gms of hydrolyzed starch and 1 liter of tap water. The hydrolyzed starch was obtained by heating Pearl starch (Staley Manufacturing Company) at a concentration of 30% by weight in water with an α-amylase enzyme (Tenase, supplied by Miles Laboratory) at a weight ration of about 45 to 700 parts of starch for each part of the α-amylase enzyme. After addition of the α-amylase enzyme, the solution was incubated at 60°C. for 2 hours, then placed in a boiling-water bath for 30 minutes or autoclaved for 15 minutes at 15 psi at a temperature of 120°C. The pH of the E-1 medium was about 7.6 to 7.8.

The cells of the bacteria are non-motile, non-sporeforming rods having a size range of 0.75 - 1.0 by 1.0 - 2.0 microns. The organism usually occurs as single cells and only rarely forms chains. The bacterium is heavily encapsulated and also produces a large amount of extracellular slime in the E-1 medium, as described previously.

The bacteria were observed by electron microscopic observation at a magnification of about 161,000 times. In observing the bacteria under the electron microscope, it was observed by three different methods, i.e., phosphotungstic acid negative staining, uranyl acetate negative staining and platinum-carbon shadowing. These methods are described in "Techniques for Electron Microscopy," Second Edition, edited by D. H. Kay, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, England (1965). As observed, the bacteria did not possess flagella.

The colonial morphology of the bacteria was observed by growing the bacteria in three different media. On a nutrient agar plate, the organism forms circular, convex, entire, smooth, opaque white-to-cream colored colonies. The colonial morphology on YM agar is the same as on the nutrient agar plate, but more copious growth is usually evident. On Levine's EMB agar, the bacteria formed heavily mucoid colonies. On a nutrient agar slant, the growth is heavy, moderately viscid, creamy and filiform. The organism exhibits a large amount of sub-surface growth in Nutrient Broth with a heavy flocculent sediment. There was no surface growth. The organism did not grow at a temperature of 4°C. on YM agar after two weeks of incubation, but grew very well in this medium at room temperature (22°-24°C.). The organism also grows well at 30°C. and at 35°C. on YM agar but will not grow at a temperature of 55°C. The optimum growth temperature appears to be about 28° to about 35°C. and the thermal death point of the bacteria is about 55° to 60°C.

The Nutrient Broth contained 0.3% by weight of beef extract and 0.5% by weight of peptone in distilled water. The nutrient agar was composed of Nutrient Broth in admixture with about 1.5% by weight of agar.

The bacteria were also grown in litmus milk using the procedure described at page 40 of "Laboratory Methods in Microbiology," by W. F. Harrigan and M. E. McCance, Academic Press, New York, New York, (1966). The bacteria produced an acid reaction in litmus milk after 24 hours, and formation of an acid curd with peptonization and reduction of the litmus were observed after 96 hours.

The optimum pH conditions for growth of the bacteria were determined in E-1 medium, as described previously. It is found that the optimum pH for growth of the bacteria was about 7.0 ±0.5.

Antibiotic sensitivity tests were run on the bacteria using a paper disc method. In this procedure, paper discs, having a diameter of 5 or 6 millimeters were cut from filter paper and autoclaved to kill any organisms thereon. The autoclaved filter paper was then soaked in a dilute aqueous solution of the antibiotic under test and the impregnated paper disc was placed on the center of a lawn of bacteria in a petri dish and incubated under aerobic conditions for 30 hours at 30°C. The lawn of bacteria was prepared by first heating YM agar growth medium, as defined previously, to about 100°C. on a water bath to melt it. The liquified agar was then cooled to 45°C. and poured into a sterile petri dish. The agar was then solidified by cooling to room temperature. After solidification, one-tenth milliliter of a suspension of the bacteria was smeared evenly across the surface with a sterile glass rod. There was obtained, on incubation, a hazy, homogeneous-appearing bacterial growth. The term "lawn" refers to such a preparation which contains a very high bacterial count.

After incubation of the solidified agar at 30°C. for about 24 hours in the petri dish in contact with the impregnated disc, as described above, the bacterial growth was observed. If the bacteria were sensitive to the antibiotic, there was a clear area around the periphery of the disc which was free from bacteria. The determination of antibiotic sensitivity by the above method is described in the literature at pages 206-212 of "Diagnostic Bacteriology" by I. G. Schaub et al., 5th Ed., The C. V. Mosby Co., St. Louis, Missouri.

When tested in the above manner, it was found that the bacteria were resistant to penicillin at a disc concentration of 0.5 units of penicillin and resistant to novobiocin at a dsic concentration of 2.5 micrograms. The bacteria were found to be sensitive to streptomycin at a disc concentration of 1.5 micrograms, sensitive to neomycin at a disc concentration of 1.5 micrograms and sensitive to polymyxin-B at a disc concentration of 1.3 micrograms. In further tests, the biochemical characteristics of the bacteria were determined. The bacteria tested negative to the Methyl Red test procedure described at page 60 of the Harrigan and McCance text, supra. The bacteria gave a positive catalase test, a positive urease test, a negative oxidase test, a weakly positive amylase test, and a positive cellulase test. The catalase, urease, oxidase and amylase tests are set forth, respectively, at pages 65, 56, 65 and 58 of the Harrigan and McCance text, supra. The bacteria also gave a positive arginase test after five days at aerobic conditions according to the method of M. J. Thornley "Journal of Applied Bacteriology," Vol. 23, page 37 (1960). The bacteria gave a negative indole formation test, a negative gelatin liquefaction test, a positive hydrogen sulfide formation test, a positive citrate utilization test and a positive acetylmethyl carbinol formation test. The indole formation, gelatin liquefaction, nitrate reduction, hydrogen sulfide formation, citrate utilization and acetylmethyl carbinol formation tests are set forth, respectively, at pages 53, 51 and 53, 56 and 57, 55 and 56, 203 and 60 of the Harrigan and McCance text, supra.

The bacterium was found to be fermentative when tested by the Hugh Liefson Glucose test as described at page 59 of the Harrigan and McCance text, supra. The bacteria tested positive in malonate broth according to the procedure described at pages 227-228 of the publication entitled "A guide to the Identification of the Genera of Bacteria" by F. B. D. Skerman, Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, (1967). Lysine decarboxylase and cytochrome oxidase activity were determined using Patho Tec test papers from General Diagnostics Division of Warner-Chilcott Laboratories. The bacteria tested positive to lysine decarboxylase and negative to cytochrome oxidase.

The organism was tested to determine its tolerance to salt. It grew within 24 hours in nutrient broth containing 5% by weight of sodium chloride when incubated under aerobic conditions at 30°C. When incubated under the same conditions in nutrient broth containing 7% by weight of sodium chloride, the organism grew within 48 to 72 hours.

The cellulase test which was employed is not a standard test and will, therefore, be described in detail. In performing the test, a citrate buffer solution having a pH of about 6.5 was made up which contained 1.75% by weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose. To this was added a 1.75% by weight aqueous solution of a heteropolysaccharide gum as produced by the bacteria employed in the practice of the present invention. The gum solution and the hydroxyethyl cellulose solutions were mixed in the ratio of 3 parts by weight of the hydroxyethyl cellulose solution to 1 part by weight of the gum solution. The mixed solutions were then incubated at 43.3°C. in a tightly sealed jar for at least 4 days. The presence of the cellulase enzyme will result in the degradation of the hydroxyethyl cellulose, thereby reducing the viscosity of the mixed solutions. By noting that there was, in fact, a decrease in the viscosity of the mixed solutions in excess of about 5%, it was determined that the cellulase enzyme was present and was produced by the bacteria employed in the present invention. In performing the test, a preservative containing 1-(3-chloroallyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1-azoniaadamantane chloride (Dowicil 100 supplied by the Dow Chemical Company) was added at 0.2% by weight to kill any bacteria in the solutions so that the only agent present which could cause degradation of the cellulose was the cellulase enzyme.

Jars which contained only the substrate hydroxyethyl cellulose solution were subjected to the same conditions as the mixed solutions to furnish test controls.

In a further series of experiments, the bacteria were grown in various basal media containing a carbohydrate source. The growth of the bacteria was observed to determine whether the bacteria caused fermentation with production of acid and gas, caused fermentation with production of acid only, or caused no fermentation. In conducting these experiments, the basal medium described by D. W. Dye, "New Zealand Journal of Science," Vol. 5, pages 393-416 (1962), was first sterilized by autoclaving. A carbohydrate solution was then made up and was sterilized by filtration through a Seitz Filter Pad in which the holes passing through the filter pad are approximately 1/50th micron in diameter. No living bacteria is sufficiently small to permit its passage through the above-described Seitz Filter pad. Thus filtration in this manner is a convenient way to sterilize an aqueous media without the use of heat.

The sterilized carbohydrate solution was then added to a heat sterilized basal medium as described by Dye in a sufficient amount to give a total carbohydrate concentration of 0.5% by weight. The pH of the basal medium was about 7 and contained a few drops of Brom-Cresol Purple, which was used as the pH indicator. Following this, the liquid growth medium was inoculated with bacteria, the test tube was closed, and the organism was incubated at a temperature of 30°C. The results of these tests are shown in the following Table.

                  TABLE                                                            ______________________________________                                         Fermentation with                                                                           Fermentation with                                                 production of acid                                                                          production of acid                                                and gas      only          Not Fermented                                       ______________________________________                                         D-Arabinose  Dextrin        Adonitol                                           D-Cellobiose                Dulcitol                                           D-Fructose                  Inulin                                             D-Galactose                 Sodium                                                                         Alginate                                           D-Glucose                   Starch                                              Inositol                                                                      D-Lactose                                                                      D-Maltose                                                                       Mannitol                                                                      D-Mannose                                                                      D-Raffinose                                                                    L-Rhamnose                                                                     D-Ribose                                                                        Salicin                                                                       D-Sucrose                                                                      D-Trehalose                                                                    D-Xylose                                                                       ______________________________________                                    

As shown in the above Table, the bacteria were able to utilize a wide variety of carbohydrates for growth. The pH indicator, Brom-Cresol Purple, gives a yellow coloration at an acid pH of less than 5.2. In the above tests, control tests were carried out under the same conditions with the same media without the presence of the bacteria. The control test showed no change in the pH during incubation; thus, indicating that the resultant pH change was caused by the bacteria.

When the organism was grown in E-1 medium containing glucose, a yellowish pigmentation was noted. A procedure for the extraction of carotinoid pigments was followed and the results indicated that the yellowish pigment is not carotinoid. The clear supernatant medium remaining after removal of the cells was yellow which indicated that the yellow pigment produced by the organism is water soluble.

On the basis of the above tests, it has been attempted to identify the bacteria in terms of morphological characteristics and physiological properties, as compared with those of known organisms recorded in the "Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology," reprint of 7th Edition, Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, Maryland (1959). On the basis of the accumulated information, the organism is believed to belong to the family "Enterobacteriaceae". This conclusion is based on the fact that the organism is a gram negative, non-sporeforming, straight rod which produces acid and gas from glucose. The fact that the organism ferments lactose within 48 hours and does not produce the pigment prodigiosin limits it to two tribes: Escherichieae and Erwinieae. The ability of the organism to produce hydrogen sulfide as well as an acid curd in litmus milk with peptonization and reduction of the litmus, indicates that the organism does not belong to the tribe Eschericheieae.

These facts indicate that Erwinieae is the closest taxonomical group to the organism. The basic characteristics of the organism agree well with those of Erwinieae. This tribe contains only one genus, that being Erwinia. The full characteristics of the organism do not match those of any known species of Erwinia as described in "Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology". The presence of a non-carotenoid pigment and the lack of mobility are outstanding examples. Thus, it is believed that the organism is a new species of Erwinia and it is, therefore, referred to by the new name of Erwinia tahitica.

Other groups of bacteria which somewhat resemble the organism utilized in the present invention are Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Azotomonas, Aerobacter and Klebsiella. Pseudomonas was ruled out on the basis that it does not form gas in the presence of carbohydrates. Aeromonas was eliminated because it does not ferment lactose. Azotomonas was ruled out because it is able to fix nitrogen while the organism of the present invention does not have this property. Aerobacter was eliminated because of the differences between it and the present organism in regard to pigmentation, litmus milk reactions and gelatin liquefaction. Klebsiella was eliminated because of differences between it and the present organism in regard to pigmentation, litmus milk reactions and the production of hydrogen sulfide.

The properties of our Erwinia tahitica bacteria are for convenience summarized below:

Morphology

a. Cells--Gram negative, non-motile, non-spore forming rods having a size range of 0.75 -1.0 × 1.0 -2.0 microns. Bacteria is encapsulated and produces a large amount of extracellular slime. Bacteria does not possess flagella and usually occurs as single cells and only rarely forms chains.

b. Colony--Nutrient agar plate: Forms circular, convex, entire, smooth, opaque, white-to-cream-colored colonies.

Ym agar--Same characteristics as observed on nutrient agar plate but copious growth is usually evident.

Levine's EMB Agar--The bacteria have a heavy mucoid colony type.

Growth Characteristics

a. Nutrient agar slant--heavy, moderately viscid, creamy and filiform.

b. Nutrient broth--Exhibits a large amount of subsurface growth with a heavy flocculent sediment. There is no surface growth.

c. Litmus milk--Produced acid reaction after 24 hours and formation of acid curd with peptonization and reduction of the litmus after 96 hours.

d. Growth Temperature--Optimum growth temperature of about 28° to about 35°C. and thermal death point of about 55°-60°C.

e. Growth pH--Optimum pH is 7.0 ±0.5.

Salt Tolerance

Organism will grow under aerobic conditions at 30°C. in nutrient broth containing 5% by weight of NaCl within 24 hours incubation and containing 7% by weight of NaCl within 48 to 72 hours of incubation.

Antibiotic Sensitivity

           Penicillin  Resistant                                                          Novobiocin  Resistant                                                          Streptomycin                                                                               Sensitive                                                          Polymyxin-B Sensitive                                                          Neomycin    Sensitive                                              

Biochemical Characteristics

    Methyl Red       Negative                                                      Catalase         Positive                                                      Urease           Positive                                                      Oxidase          Negative                                                      Amylase          Weakly Positive                                               Cellulase        Positive                                                      Arginase         Positive                                                      Indole Formation Negative                                                      Hydrogen Sulfide                                                                formation       Positive                                                      Citrate utilization                                                                             Positive                                                      Acetylmethyl carbinol                                                           formation       Positive                                                      Gelatin Liquefaction                                                                            Negative                                                      Hugh Liefson Glucose                                                            test            Fermentative                                                  Malonate broth   Positive                                                      Lysine decarboxylase                                                                            Positive                                                      Cytochrome oxidase                                                                              Negative                                                 

In practicing our invention, a suitable nutient fermentation medium is inoculated with a heteropolysaccharide producing strain of Erwinia tahitica and permitted to incubate at a temperature of about 33° to about 37°C., preferably about 35°C., for a period of about 45 to about 60 hours. The bacteria are quite fastidious in their nutritional characteristics in that they require a fairly specific carbon source in order to produce massive amounts of the heteropolysaccharide. The carbon source required by the bacteria in order to produce the polysaccharide is an oligosaccharide containing from about 3 to about 10 monomer units at a concentration of about 1 to about 5% by weight, and preferably about 2 to 4% by weight.

A further ingredient which is present in the fermentation medium is a source of magnesium ions. The magnesium salt content of the fermentation medium may range from about 0.005 to about 0.02% by weight. Suitable sources of magnesium ions include water soluble magnesium salts, such as magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, magnesium acetate, magnesium chloride, magnesium nitrate and magnesium acid phosphate which may be deliberately added or present as an impurity in the carbon source or the water used.

The pH of the fermentation medium is important to suitable growth of the bacteria. We have found that the optimum pH for production of Heteropolysaccharide-10 is in the range of about 6.0 to 7.5, and preferably about 6.0 to 6.5. Control of the pH can generally be obtained by the use of a buffer compound such as dipotassium acid phosphate at a concentration from about 0.4 to about 0.6% by weight of the fermentation medium. Any of the various sodium and potassium salts of phosphoric acid may be used as buffer, e.g. KH₂ PO₄, K₂ HPO₄, K₃ PO₄, NaH₂ PO₄, Na₂ HPO₄, or Na₃ PO₄. When the pH is adjusted to about 7, there will be present about equal amounts of mono- and dibasic phosphates.

Conversely, the pH can be controlled through conventional means by using a pH meter coupled with a source of a suitable base, e.g. an alkali metal hydroxide, such as a solution of potassium or sodium hydroxide. As the pH is lowered due to the production of acids during the fermentation reaction, small quantities of the potassium or sodium hydroxide solution may be automatically added by the pH controller to keep the pH within the desired range. For best results it is desired that some dipotassium acid phosphate be present because of its buffer action, but the amount can be less, i.e., 0.05 -0.15% by weight, when an alkali metal hydroxide is also used. In a system where pH is controlled by alkali addition, the preferred range is 6.0-6.5. If it rises above 6.5, an acid such as sulfuric acid may be added to reduce it to the desired range.

Generally, the bacterial fermentation process of our invention does not require the addition of alkali to control the pH during the fermentation. The pH of the fermentation beer drops to about 6.0 which generally occurs after 10 to 20 hours of fermentation, then increases to about 6.5-6.8, and generally remains at this level for the balance of the fermentation. If the pH drops after about 30-50 hours, potassium hydroxide or another suitable base, such as sodium hydroxide, may be added to maintain the pH at at least about 6.5.

At least a trace quantity of phosphorus, generally in the form of a soluble potassium salt, is also present in the fermentation medium. Larger quantities of phosphorus, such as about 0.65% by weight (calculated as dipotassium-acid-phosphate) of the fermentation medium, can, however, also be used.

In order to obtain a rapid fermentation, we have found that it is essential to have a sufficient quantity of oxygen available for the growing Erwinia tahitica culture. If either too much or too little oxygen is available, the production of Heteropolysaccharide 10 by the bacterial culture is slowed down. Our process requires that sufficient oxygen be made available for the bacteria. The oxygen requirements can be defined in terms of a sulfite oxidation value, which is a measure of the rate of oxygen uptake in the fermentor under the agitation and aeration conditions employed. It is, however, preferred to describe this aspect of the process in terms of dissolved oxygen, and in this regard it is important that a dissolved oxygen level of 5-10% be maintained at least during the first 20-40 hours of the fermentation. Thus, the liquid medium should contain 5-10% of the amount of oxygen that can be dissolved in the medium, when the oxygen is added as air.

A source of nitrogen is also present in the fermentation medium. The nitrogen source may be organic in nature as, for example, soy protein; an enzymatic digest of soybean meal such as soy Peptone, Type-T; Promosoy 100; a pancreatic hydrolysate of casein, such as N-Z amine Type A; an enzymatic digest of proteins, such as Ferm Amine Type IV, or distillers solubles, such as Stimuflav. Soy protein is sold by Nutritional Biochemical Corp., cleveland, Ohio; Promosoy 100 is sold by Central Soya Chemurgy Division; Stimuflav is marketed by Hiram Walker & Sons, Inc., and the other materials are sold by Sheffield Chemical, Norwich, New York. When utilizing an organic nitrogen source in the fermentation medium, an amount ranging between about 0.01 and 0.07% by weight of the fermentation medium is satisfactory.

Also, if desired, an inorganic nitrogen source, such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, ammonium citrate or ammonium acetate may be present in the fermentation medium. The amount of such a salt which may be employed can range from about 0.02 to about 0.15% by weight and preferably from about 0.045 to about 0.1% by weight of the fermentation medium.

As described previously, the Erwinia tahitica bacteria are quite selective in their utilization of carbon sources with regard to the preparation of Heteropolysaccharide-10. The carbon source which we have found most suitable, and which is preferred in practicing the process aspect of our invention is starch that has been hydrolyzed with an α-amylase enzyme followed by heating at an elevated temperature. The type of starch used is not critical. Representative examples of starches that may be employed are corn starch--which is preferred, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch and tapioca starch. Also acceptable are the commercial corn syrups which are starch hydrolysates.

Starch hydrolysates may be defined in terms of Dextrose Equivalent which is determined by the formula: ##EQU1## where the reducing sugar activity is determined as described by Lane and Eynon, Chemistry and Industry, p. 23 (1923) using the Soxhlet modification of Fehling's solution.

We prefer that the hydrolyzed starch used as a carbon source for producing Heteropolysaccharide-10 via the growth of Erwinia tahitica have a Dextrose Equivalent of about 20-30, and preferably about 22-27. With commercial corn syrups, such as American Maize Lodex, the preferred Dextrose Equivalent is close to 30, and may be as high as about 35.

The starch hydrolysates used in our invention are readily prepared by methods known to those skilled in this art. For instance, a 30% aqueous corn starch solution containing 1.25 - 2.0% by weight of an -amylase enzyme based on weight of starch (Tenase, Miles Laboratories) gave a starch hydrolysate having a Dextrose Equivalent of 19-20 when the temperature of the solution was raised from room temperature to 100°C. over a period of 5-15 minutes.

If the starch fractions in the hydrolysate were uniform in molecular weight, the degree of polymerization would be about 3-10 momomer units. In a typical preparation, a 30% aqueous corn starch solution containing 3.3% by weight of the starch of Tenase -amylase enzyme was incubated at 60°C. for 2 hours and then boiled for 30 minutes. It had a Dextrose Equivalent of 20.

On completion of the fermentation, the desired Heteropolysaccharide-10 may be recovered by treatment of the fermentation beer with a miscible solvent which is a poor solvent for the heteropolysaccharide and does not react with it. In this way the heteropolysaccharide is precipitated from solution. The quantity of solvent employed generally ranges from about 2 to about 3 volumes per volume of fermentation beer. Among the various solvents which may be employed are acetone and lower alkanols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol, tertiary butanol, isobutanol, and n-amyl alcohol. Isopropanol is preferred. Precipitation of the desired heteropolysaccharide is facilitated when the fermentation beer is first heated to a temperature of about 70° to about 90°C. for a short time, e.g. about 5 to 10 minutes, and then cooled to about 30°C. or lower before addition of the solvent. Thus, this is a preferred method of precipitating the heteropolysaccharide from the fermentation beer. The solid is recovered by separating it from the liquid, as by filtering or straining, and then drying at elevated temperature.

Heteropolysaccharide-10, produced according to the process of the present invention, is a high molecular weight product containing about 97% carbohydrate and 3% protein. It has an acetyl content of about 4.5%. The protein portion is represented by approximately 6 ninhydrin stained compounds. The carbohydrate portion of the heteropolysaccharide consists of about 19% of uronic acid, about 39% glucose, about 29% galactose and about 13% fucose. The approximate molar ratio of the glucose, galactose, uronic acid and fucose is 3:2:1.5:1 , respectively. Heteropolysaccharide-10 has a specific rotation of [α]_(D) = +106° (c 0.25, water). It is essentially insoluble in dimethyl sulfoxide. It is only slightly soluble in acetone and lower alkanols.

The acetyl content of 4.5% is determined by treating a 0.1% aqueous solution in an oxygen-free atmosphere with a known volume of 0.01 N potassium hydroxide containing 1% (W/V) potassium chloride at room temperature. Aliquots are removed at elapsed time intervals and the acetyl content determined by back-titration with 0.01N sulfuric acid.

The composition of the carbohydrate portion of Heteropolysaccharide-10 is determined by dissolving 0.5 grams of the product in 100 ml. of water. 100 Ml. of 4N sulfuric acid is added to the resulting solution, and the mixture refluxed for 12 hours. The resulting solution is cooled and brought to pH 5-6 with barium carbonate. The resulting precipitate of barium sulfate is separated by filtration and barium ions removed from the filtrate using a cation exchange resin on the hydrogen cycle. After removal of the resin, the solution is concentrated to a syrup under reduced pressure at 35°C., and the sugars are tentatively identified by vapor chromatography.

60 Mg. of the above hydrolysate syrup is dissolved in 10 ml. of water and the sugar is reduced by treating with 150 mg. of sodium borohydride for 12 hours. After decomposition of excess sodium borohydride by treatment with Amberlite IR-120 on the hydrogen cycle, the residual boric acid is removed by co-distilling several times with methanol. The resulting alditols are acetylated by treating with 5 ml. of acetic anhydride in 5 ml. of pyridine for 12 hours. Water is then added to the reaction mixture which is then concentrated to a small volume and co-distilled several times with chloroform. The resulting residue is dissolved in chloroform and gas liquid chromatography performed with a Hewlett-Packard Model 5750 chromatograph using 3% by weight of ECNSS-M on 80/100 Gas Chrome Q at 185°C. The sugars are identified by comparison with authentic standards and the proportions of alditol acetates determined directly from the peak areas on the gas chromatogram by integration.

The various components of the heteropolysaccharide were also characterized by the use of paper chromatography. The carbohydrate components were identified using descending paper chromatography on Whatman filter paper No. 4 using as solvents a butanol-acetic acid-water mixture (having a volume ratio of 6:1.5:2.5), a butanol-pyridine-water mixture (having a volume ratio of 4:4:2) and an isopropanol-pyridine-water mixture at a volume ratio of the components of 6:2:2. The chromatograms were stained using the aniline reagent as described at page 152 of "Chromatographic and Electrophoretic Techniques" by I. Smith, William Heinemann Medical Books, Ltd., and Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, New York (1960). The other components in the heteropolysaccharide were characterized by using the butanol-acetic acid-water solvent mixture followed by staining of the chromatograms using the Bromocresol Green reagent and the ninhydrin reagent as described at pages 279, 95 and 96 of "Chromatographic and Electrophoretic Techniques," supra.

On the basis of the above determination, the major carbohydrate portion of the heteropolysaccharide is composed of glucose and galactose. A spot which migrated with an Rg value of 11-12 in the n-butanol-pyridine-water solvent system using the descending techniques was identified as a uronic acid by its staining characteristics with the napthoresorcinol reagent. Another compound which had an Rf value of 69-73 in the butanol-acetic acid-water solvent by the ascending technique stained yellow with the bromocresol green stain and was ninhydrin negative. This compound is suspected to be an organic acid.

In typical chromatogram of the ninhydrin positive compounds, the lower four ninhydrin compounds stained blue or basic with the bromocresol green stain indicating that they are basic aminoacids. Two basic amino acids (lysine and arginine) were cochromatographed with the heteropolysaccharide hydrolysate and show migration patterns similar to two of the ninhydrin positive compounds in the hydrolysate.

The uronic acid content of the heteropolysaccharide was determined by decarboxylation with 19% hydrochloric acid. The liberated carbon dioxide was trapped in standard sodium hydroxide and determined by back-titration. From these results the uronic acid content was calculated. The uronic acid content of the heteropolysaccharide was also assayed by dissolving 2 grams of the purified material in 400 milliliters of distilled water. This solution was then stirred for 2 hours with 25 milliliters (packed volume) of H+ - charged Amberlite 120 ion exchange resin. The resin was then removed by centrifugation and the solution was dialyzed overnight against distilled water and then for 3 hours against double distilled water. The volume of the heteropolysaccharide solution was then condensed to 420 milliliters using a Buchler Flash Evaporator. A 100 milliliter aliquot was titrated with 0.0492 Normal sodium hydroxide. The amount of uronic acid present in the heteropolysaccharide is then calculated through the use of a titration curve.

An infrared spectrum of the Heteropolysaccharide-10 was made on a dried thin film of the material using a Perkin-Elmer Model 337 Grating Infrared Spectrophotometer. The heteropolysaccharide evidenced two peaks at frequencies of 1720 and 1610 cm.sup.⁻¹ which indicate the presence of acetate and carboxylic groups, respectively. The peak at 1610 cm.sup.⁻¹ confirms the presence of a uronic acid. The product also shows a peak at 1400 cm.sup.⁻¹ indicating the presence of peptide bonds.

Heteropolysaccharide-10 is compatible with cationic dyes such as Methylene Blue-chloride and Alcian Blue (i.e., the cationic dye did not precipitate the heteropolysaccharide from solution).

The bacteria employed in the process of the invention are capable of producing a cellulase enzyme which is present in the fermentation medium along with the desired heteropolysaccharide. In many use applications for the heteropolysaccharide, it would be undesirable to have present the cellulase enzyme. If, for example, the heteropolysaccharide were employed in a medium which contained a cellulosic thickener, such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, the cellulase enzyme would degrade the hydroxyethyl cellulose. It was found that the cellulase enzyme present in the fermentation beer can be destroyed by heating the beer at a temperature of about 170 to about 180°F. or higher for approximately 10 minutes. This provides a preferred form of the heteropolysaccharide for use in applications where cellulosic thickeners are present.

As will be seen from certain of the following examples, Heteropolysaccharide-10 imparts viscosity to an aqueous medium when dissolved in water in low concentration. Because of this, its sensitivity to shear, its pseudoplasticity, its stability with salts, and because of its overall rheology, Heteropolysaccharide-10 is useful as a thickening, suspending and stabilizing agent in aqueous systems. More specifically, it is useful as an additive to textile printing pastes or in formulating low drift aqueous herbicidal compositions. It is also of value as a thickening or suspending agent in salad dressings, in forming thickened puddings, and as a thickener in adhesive compositions.

Heteropolysaccharide-10 is of particular value as an additive in aqueous paints because of its ability to improve the flow and leveling of such paints, and because of its pseudoplasticity. The paint may, of course, contain other ingredients in addition to the pigment, binders and colors, such as extenders, preservatives, dispersants, wetting agents, freeze-thaw stabilizers and the like, all of which are well-known to those skilled in the art, as are the methods used in preparing the heteropolysaccharide-containing paint.

Heteropolysaccharide-10 is also useful as a fluid loss control agent in drilling muds, completion fluids and similar aqueous media from which fluid losses to subterranean strata have to be controlled. In water flooding compositions, it is used as a thickening agent to impart sufficient viscosity to the aqueous medium so that the crude oil may be effectively displaced from the reservoir. In drilling muds and in water-flooding operations there will normally be present other materials such as weighting agents and metal salts.

In all of these applications, the heteropolysaccharide is added in low concentration, i.e., from about 0.3% - 3.0% by weight, using mixing and formulating techniques well known to those skilled in the particular art. The viscosity of the composition may be varied as desired by adjusting the amount of Heteropolysaccharide-10 employed.

The following examples are given for the purpose of illustrating aspects of our invention, but are not to be construed as limiting.

EXAMPLE 1

A series of experiments were conducted to determine the effect of using various carbon sources in the bacterial fermentation on the yield of Heteropolysaccharide-10. The seed for the experiments was obtained by growing Erwinia tahitica ATCC 21711 for 24 hours in E-1 medium containing 3% by weight of hydrolyzed starch as the carbon source. The seed was then transferred aseptically to sterilized shake flasks containing 90 milliliters of basal E-1 medium and 10 milliliters of a 30% by weight aqueous solution of the carbon source under test. The quantity of the seed inoculum was 1% by weight of the total weight of the medium. After inoculation of the flasks, the mixture was incubated under aerobic conditions at 30°C. on a rotary shaker having a controllable speed range of 160 to 400 rpm. The results of these tests are set forth in the following Table I.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         Carbon Source                                                                               Ferm. Time Final   Final Beer                                      (3%)        (hrs.)     pH      Viscosity (cps)                                ______________________________________                                         Glucose      43 hrs.    3.45    5                                              Hydrolyzed Starch                                                                           72 hrs.    7.00    4,600                                          Sucrose      72 hrs.    4.40    50                                             Dextrin-1    72 hrs.    7.50    0                                              Maltose      72 hrs.    6.70    50                                             ______________________________________                                    

As shown in the above Table, the results of the fermentation vary greatly depending upon the carbon source which was employed. The use of hydrolyzed starch as the carbon source produced a satisfactory yield (1.61%) of the heteropolysaccharide as evidenced by the high viscosity of the fermentation beer. However, the use of glucose or dextrin-1 as the carbon source produced essentially no heteropolysaccharide.

EXAMPLE II

In a further series of experiments which were conducted under the same conditions as set forth in Example I, various mixed carbon sources were employed to determine their effect on the production of the Heteropolysaccharide-10 by the Erwinia tahitica bacterium. The results of these tests are set forth in the following Table II.

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                                                 Final Beer   Yield                                     Carbon Source Final pH  Viscosity (cps)                                                                             %                                         ______________________________________                                         2% Starch 1% Sucrose                                                                         5.5       4,700        1.85                                      2% Starch 1% Glucose                                                                         7.3       25           1.60                                      2.5% Starch 0.5%                                                                             6.5       2,800        1.81                                      Glucose                                                                        3% Starch     5.25      5,200        1.50                                      ______________________________________                                    

As illustrated in the above Table, the use of hydrolyzed starch in combination with sucrose proved to be a satisfactory carbon source for the fermentation. However, the presence of glucose in the fermentation medium was found to have an inhibiting effect upon the ability of the bacteria to produce the heteropolysaccharide. In the above tests, the incubation time at 35°C. was 72 hours.

EXAMPLE III

In still further experiments, conducted in the same manner as described in Example II, various other mixed carbon sources were employed to determine their efficiency in the production of the desired heteropolysaccharide. The results of these experiments are set forth in the following Table.

                  TABLE III                                                        ______________________________________                                                             Final   Final Beer                                         Carbon Source       pH      Viscosity (cps)                                    ______________________________________                                         1.5% Starch                                                                               1.5% Sucrose 6.8     3,350                                          1.5% Dextrin-1                                                                            1.5% Sucrose 6.5      600                                           1.5% Maltose                                                                              1.5% Sucrose 6.8     2,650                                          1.5% Maltose                                                                              1.5% Dextrin-1                                                                              6.5     2,150                                          3% Starch               7.0     4,600                                          ______________________________________                                    

As illustrated, the Erwinia tahitica in these experiments was able to utilize various mixed carbon sources in the production of the heteropolysaccharide. In all cases, however, the most efficient carbon source was hydrolyzed starch which had been previously treated with an α-amylase enzyme followed by treatment at high temperature in the manner described previously.

EXAMPLE IV

The effect of various carbon sources on the fermentation with Erwinia tahitica ATCC 21711 were studied in sterilized one gallon fermentors. The fermentors contained 2.5 liters of E-l medium and 200 milliliters of a 24-hour seed grown in a basal E-1 medium and 300 milliliters of the carbon source -- all being added aseptically. During the fermentation, the temperature was maintained at 30°C., and the fermentation mixture was continuously aerated and agitated. The fermentation time in the one-gallon fermentor was 48 hours and the results of the fermentation are shown in the following Table.

                  TABLE IV                                                         ______________________________________                                                             Final   Final Beer                                         Carbon Source       pH      Viscosity (cps)                                    ______________________________________                                         3% Starch           6.0     5,700                                              2.75% Starch 0.25% Dextrin-2                                                                       5.9     5,900                                              2.50% Starch 0.50% Dextrin-2                                                                       6.0     5,800                                              1.5% Starch  1.5%   Dextrin-2                                                                      6.2     3,250                                              2.75% Dextrin-2 0.25% Glucose                                                                      6.7      500                                               2.90% Dextrin-2 0.10% Glucose                                                                      6.9      700                                               ______________________________________                                    

As shown in the above Table, the use of a mixture of hydrolyzed starch with Dextrin-2 as the carbon source provided satisfactory fermentations as indicated by the final viscosities of the fermentation beer. However, the use of Dextrin-2 with glucose as the carbon source was found to be unsatisfactory as was indicated by the low viscosity of the fermentation beer.

EXAMPLE V

In a further series of experiments with Erwinia tahitica ATCC 21711 conducted in the same manner as set forth in Example I, fermentations were carried out in shake flasks at 30°C. for 80 hours. The seed for the experiments was obtained by growing the bacteria for 24 hours in E-1 medium containing 3% by weight of hydrolyzed starch as the carbon source. The quantity of the seed inoculum was 1% by weight of the total weight of the fermentation medium. The carbon source employed in each of the experiments was varied to determine the effect of the degree of starch hydrolysis on the fermentation. The individual carbon sources were prepared by heating Pearl starch (Staley Manufacturing Company) at a concentration of 30% by weight in water with varying quantities of an α-amylase enzyme, (Tenase, supplied by Miles Laboratories). After addition of the α-amylase enzyme, the starch solution was incubated at 60°C. for 2 hours and then placed in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes or autoclaved for 15 minutes at 15 psi at a temperature of 120°C. The weight percent of the α-amylase enzyme used in the hydrolysis of the starch carbon source is set forth in the following Table, together with the final pH and the final viscosity of the fermentation medium.

                  TABLE V                                                          ______________________________________                                         Percent Tenase/Starch      Final Beer                                          (w/w × 100)                                                                              Final pH   Viscosity (cps)                                     ______________________________________                                         0.22            7.3        Close   0                                                           7.3        to      0                                           0.56            7.0        1,325                                                               6.9        1,275                                               1.11            6.9        2,000                                                               6.85       2,200                                               2.22            6.8        3,600                                                               6.75       3,300                                               ______________________________________                                    

As demonstrated by the above data, when the starch was insufficiently hydrolyzed, the fermentation was unsatisfactory and essentially no product was obtained. As the degree of hydrolysis of the starch used as a carbon source was increased, there was obtained a corresponding increase in the efficiency of the fermentation and in the yield of the desired heteropolysaccharide.

The viscosities set forth in Examples I-V were obtained by the use of a Brookfield Viscometer at 60 rpm and a temperature of 25°C. using a No. 4 spindle.

EXAMPLE VI

This fermentation was carried out in a 5-liter fermentor. Erwinia tahitica ATCC 21711 seed was prepared in another 5-liter fermentor containing E-1 medium and 3% by weight of hydrolyzed starch as the carbon source. This seed was used at 48 hours growth to inoculate (6.7% inoculum size) a 5-liter fermentor containing a final volume of 3 liters of E-1 medium with 3% by weight of hydrolyzed starch (Dextrose Equivalent 22.5) as the carbon source. The aeration rate was one liter per minute. The agitation rate was set at a tip speed of 260 feed per minute and increased to a maximum of 780 feed per minute as necessary to ensure adequate mixing during the fermentation. The fermentation temperature was 30°C. By 64 hours the viscosity of the fermentation beer was 8900 cps. with a pH of 6.2. At this time the beer was treated with isopropanol at a ratio of about 4-5 parts alcohol to one part beer. The beer was added to the alcohol to one part beer. The beer was added to he alcohol as the alcohol was being agitated vigorously with a Lightnin' mixer. The resulting precipitate of Heteropolysaccharide-10 was recovered by straining it from the fermentation liquor. It was pressed to remove excess fluid, and dried at about 100°c. for 12 hours. Substantially pure heteropolysaccharide is obtained as a pale cream-colored powder, (yield 1.85%) This heteropolysaccharide had a 1% reconstituted viscosity of 1700 cps, and is soluble in hot and cold water.

Although the product so obtained is highly pure, it is further purified, if desired, by dissolving in water and re-precipitating with isopropanol. It is recovered and dried as described previously.

The viscosities were measured at 25°C. using a Brookfield Viscometer at 60 rpm and a No. 4 spindle.

Heteropolysaccharide-10 is quite sensitive to shear. To determine the effects of shear, 1% by weight aqueous solutions of heteropolysaccharide were made up in distilled water. The shear rate was then varied from 0.84 to 8.4 reciprocal seconds, and the viscosity of the solution was measured using a Brookfield Synchro-Lectric Viscometer, Model LVF, using a No. 4 spindle at 60 rpm at a temperature of 25°C. The results of these tests are set forth in the following table.

                  TABLE VI                                                         ______________________________________                                         Shear Rate (sec.sup..sup.-1)                                                                      Viscosity (cps)                                             ______________________________________                                         8.4                1800                                                        4.2                2650                                                        1.7                4000                                                         0.84              6500                                                        ______________________________________                                    

As shown by the above data, the viscosity of the test solutions were greatly increased as the shear rate was reduced. A reduction in the sheer rate from 8.4 to 0.84 sec.sup.⁻¹ produced a viscosity increase from 1800 to 6500 cps.

In further tests, various solutions were made up by the addition of the milled Heteropolysaccharide-10 to 100 milliliters of distilled water. The heteropolysaccharide was then mixed into the distilled water with a Lightin' mixer and the test samples were allowed to sit undisturbed for 15 minutes before their viscosity was measured. The viscosities were measured using a Brookfield Synchro-Lectric Viscometer, Model LVF, using a No. 4 spindle at 60 rpm and a temperature of 25°C. The results of these tests are set forth in the following Table:

                  TABLE VII                                                        ______________________________________                                         Concentration of     Viscosity                                                 Heteropolysaccharide (wt%)                                                                          (cps)                                                     ______________________________________                                         0.2                    0                                                       0.4                   25                                                       0.6                   750                                                      0.8                  1350                                                      1.0                  1950                                                      1.2                  3150                                                      1.4                  4650                                                      1.6                  5900                                                      1.8                  7350                                                      ______________________________________                                    

As illustrated by the above data, small incremental increases in the concentration of the heteropolysaccharide produced relatively large incremental increases in viscosity. When the data in Table VII is plotted in the form of a viscosity - concentration curve (with viscosities as ordinates and concentrations as abscissas), the slope of the curve is relatively steep as compared with the viscosity concentration curves of other thickeners. This demonstrates the superiority of the Heteropolysaccaride-10 as compared in general with other thickeners.

In further tests, aqueous solutions of our heteropolysaccharide were made up and their viscosities were measured at various temperatures. It was found that there was a viscosity loss as the temperature was increased and that the rate of viscosity loss was approximately 25 cps per °C. This thermal viscosity change was temperature reversible up to a temperature of about 92°C. maintained for about 15 minutes. Thus, when these conditions were not exceeded, there was a correspoinding viscosity gain of approximately 25 cps per °C. as the temperature of the solution was decreased.

In further experiments, tests were carried out to determine the rapidity of viscosity recovery in an aqueous solution containing the heteropolysaccharide which had previously been subjected to shear forces. A 1% aqueous solution of the heteropolysaccharide was made up in distilled water and subjected to shear by mixing for 1 hour with a Lightnin' mixer. Following this, the solution was permitted to stand and the viscosity was measured at 20, 40 , 60 and 120 minutes after the shear forces had been removed. The viscosity measurements were made with a Brookfield Synchro-Lectric Viscometer, Model LVF, at 60 rpm and 25°C. These results are shown in the following Table:

                  TABLE VIII                                                       ______________________________________                                         Recovery of Viscosity Lost Due To Shear                                        Time After Shear                                                                             Viscosity   Percent Increase                                     (Minutes)     (cps)       in Viscosity                                         ______________________________________                                         20            1550        --                                                   40            1700         9                                                   60            1850        19                                                   120           1900        23                                                   ______________________________________                                    

As shown in the above Table, the viscosity of the solution built up gradually following the removal of the shear forces. However, the viscosity build-up was time dependent and did not occur instantaneously. The viscosity build-up was essentially complete after one hour since the viscosity had then almost returned to its original value.

In further tests which were conducted with the heteropolysaccharide, its stability was observed under varying pH conditions. The viscosity of aqueous solutions of the heteropolysaccharide was quite stable within a pH range of about 5 to about 10. At an acid pH of less than about 5, there was a drop in the viscosity of the solution which was, however, at least partially recoverable on the addition of base to increase the pH of the solution to about 5 or higher. At an alkaline pH in excess of about 10, there was a loss in the viscosity of the aqueous solution containing the heteropolysaccharide. This loss was a permanent one which could not be recovered by the addition of acid to lower the pH within the range of about 5 to about 10.

The stability of the heteropolysaccharide with respect to various salts was also studied. The salts included sodium chloride, potassium chloride, ammonium sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, aluminum nitrate, chromium nitrate and Na₄ B₄ O₇ . 10 H₂ O. In general, the viscosity of an aqueous solution containing the heteropolysaccharide is decreased by the addition of salts. The viscosity loss resulting from the addition of the salts occurs on the addition of a relatively small amount of the salt, such as 0.1 to 0.2%. On the addition of a further quantity of salt, there is, in general, no further decrease in the viscosity of the aqueous solution.

The rheological properties of Heteropolysaccharide-10 are summarized in the following Table IX.

                  TABLE IX                                                         ______________________________________                                         1% by weight viscosity                                                                              1,400 cps                                                 2% by weight viscosity                                                                              7,800 cps                                                 Yield Point          6.6 dynes/cm..sup.2                                       Shear Stress         132 dynes/cm..sup.2                                       2% by weight Haake viscosity                                                                        156,000 cps                                               Thixotropy           1.08                                                      Pseudoplasticity                                                                Low degree (LDP)    80                                                         High degree (HDP)   172                                                       ______________________________________                                    

In the above Table, the 1% and 2% viscosities were measured on a Brookfield Synchro-Lectric Viscometer Model LVF at 60 rpm with the No. 3 and No. 4 spindles, respectively. The remaining rheological data was obtained using a Haake Rotovisco-Dual 50/500 employing a model MV 1 cup and bob.

The shear stress is determined at 8.45 sec.sup.⁻¹. The shear stress (dynes cm.sup.⁻²) is calculated by multiplying the reading obtained at 8.45 sec.sup.⁻¹ by 3.4. The yield point is determined by the following procedure: After obtaining a steady reading at 8.45 sec.sup.⁻¹, the gear is disengaged and the reading 60 seconds later is recorded. This reading times 3.4 is the yield point in dynes cm.sup.⁻².

The thixotrophy was obtained by measuring the shear stress at 8.45 sec.sup.⁻¹, then shearing the gum at 1370 sec.sup.⁻¹ followed by measuring the shear stress again at 8.45 sec.sup.⁻¹. The thixotrophy is then calculated as the ratio of the unsheared and sheared readings, respectively.

Pseudoplasticity is the log log slope of shear rate versus shear stress. The LDP is calculated using the formula ##EQU2## where A is the shear stress at 0.0845 sec.sup.⁻¹ and B is the shear stress at 8.45 sec.sup.⁻¹. The 2.000 is the log of the ratio of shear rates. The HDP is calculated by the formula ##EQU3## where B is the shear stress at 8.45 sec.sup.⁻¹, C is the shear stress at 1370 sec.sup.⁻¹ and 2.210 is the log of the ratio of the two shear rates. The 2% Haake viscosity is taken using the MVI cup and bob and recording the reading at 0.0326 sec.sup.⁻¹. This viscosity (cps) is calculated by multiplying the reading times 11,632.

The compatibility of Heteropolysaccharide-10 with cationic dyes such as Methylene Blue-chloride was determined by preparing 100 grams of a distilled water solution containing 0.5 percent of the heteropolysaccharide. Aliquots of powdered methylene blue chloride were then added to the test solution and stirred in, after which the viscosity was measured at 25°C. using a Brookfield SynchroLectric Viscometer, Model LVF, with a No. 3 spindle at 60 rpm. The results of these experiments are shown in the following Table.

                  TABLE X                                                          ______________________________________                                         mg. Methylene                                                                  Blue added        Viscosity                                                    (accumulative)    cps                                                          ______________________________________                                         0                 430                                                          35                300                                                          60                250                                                          85                225                                                          100               200                                                          150               100                                                          175                0                                                           ______________________________________                                    

As demonstrated by the above data, the progressive addition of methylene blue chloride to the test solution caused a decrease in its viscosity. By progressively increasing the concentration of methylene blue chloride, the viscosity was decreased until it reached a viscosity of essentially 0 cps. The heteropolysaccharide was, however, compatible with the methylene blue chloride at all the concentration levels used in the experiments and was not precipitated by the methylene blue chloride.

Experiments were also conducted to determine the effect of pH on the viscosity of a solution containing methylene blue chloride and the heteropolysaccharide of our invention. In these experiments, volumes of glacial acetic acid were added to 100 ml. of a 0.5% by weight aqueous solution of the heteropolysaccharide which contained one gram of methylene blue chloride. The results of these experiments are shown in Table XI.

                  TABLE XI                                                         ______________________________________                                         Volume Acid               Viscosity                                            Added (ml.)   pH          (cps)                                                ______________________________________                                         1.1           3.35        0                                                    1.3           3.20        0                                                    1.4           3.20        0                                                    1.45          3.20        25                                                   1.50          3.15        45                                                   1.55          3.15        55                                                   1.60          3.12        60                                                   1.70          3.10        80                                                   1.80          3.10        80                                                   2.00          3.00        85                                                   2.20          3.00        90                                                   2.50          3.00        100                                                  3.00          2.95        100                                                  ______________________________________                                    

As demonstrated by the above data, the viscosity of the test solution was restored to its normal viscosity (absent the methylene blue chloride) by the addition of the glacial acetic acid. At glacial acetic acid levels of less than 1.4 ml. there was no increase in the viscosity of the system. However, as the level of glacial acetic acid was increased to levels of 1.5 ml. and higher, there was an increase in viscosity. The viscosity continued to increase as the acid level was increased up to a total of 2.5 ml. When the level of glacial acetic acid was increased to more than 2.5 ml., no further increase in viscosity was observed.

In further experiments, a 1% by weight solution of the heteropolysaccharide containing 1% by weight of methylene blue chloride was treated by the slow addition of glacial acetic acid. It was found that the solution had essentially no viscosity until the pH reached a level of about 3.4-3.5. At lower pH levels the solution gained in viscosity.

When a small amount of sodium hydroxide was added, the viscosity decreased to essentially zero. This procedure could be repeated several times by first adding acid, then a base, etc., to produce increases and decreases in viscosity. When the pH of the solution was increased to about 4.4-4.6, this also produced an increase in the viscosity of the solution to essentially its original levels (as it would be without the presence of methylene blue chloride) and this viscosity change then became pH irreversible.

The above results indicated that the electrolyte concentration (e.g., the concentration of sodium acetate in the above experiments) is another important factor in determining the viscosity of a solution of the heteropolysaccharide in the presence of methylene blue chloride.

Experiments were conducted to determine the relationship between electrolyte concentration and pH on the viscosity of an aqueous solution of the Heteropolysaccharide-10 in the presence of methylene blue chloride. In these experiments, a 0.5% by weight solution of the heteropolysaccharide in distilled water was prepared.

Seven hundred ml. portions of the heteropolysaccharide solution were then adjusted to pHs of approximately 7.5, 6.0, 4.5, 3.9 and 3.1. These solutions were then divided into 100 ml. samples and NaCl was added (in the form of a 30% by weight NaCl solution) to provide NaCl concentrations of 0, 0.5, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.30% by weight. The test solutions were mixed and to each sample was added 200 mg. of methylene blue chloride. The viscosity in centipoises of each sample was then measured using a Brookfield SynchroLectric Viscometer, Model LVF, at 60 rpm and 25°C. using a No. 3 spindle. The data from these experiments are shown in the following Table XII.

                                      TABLE XII                                    __________________________________________________________________________     Approximate pH of                                                              Heteropolysaccharide Solutions                                                 (% by wt)                                                                            7.5     6.0      4.5      3.9      3.1                                   NaCl                                                                           Conc. pH  Vis.                                                                               pH   Vis.                                                                               pH   Vis.                                                                               pH   Vis.                                                                               pH  Vis.                              __________________________________________________________________________     0     7.4 0   5.75 0   4.2  0   3.75 25  3.1 110                               0.05  7.4 40  5.9  30  4.4  80  3.7  75  3.1 115                               0.10  7.5 130 6.0  110 4.4  130 3.9  125 3.1 115                               0.15  7.5 180 6.0  175 4.4  160 3.95 140 3.2 115                               0.20  7.5 190 6.0  185 4.35 170 3.95 150 3.2 115                               0.30  7.5 190 5.95 180 4.4  170 3.95 150 3.1 110                               __________________________________________________________________________

As demonstrated by the above data, the loss in viscosity of the test solution resulting from the presence of methylene blue chloride could be regained merely by increasing the electrolyte concentration without altering the pH.

The relationship between the nature of the electrolyte and its concentration were studied in determining the functioning of the electrolyte in restoring the viscosity of a test solution containing Heteropolysaccharide-10 together with methylene blue chloride. In these experiments, a 0.5% by weight solution of the heteropolysaccharide was made up in distilled water. Two hundred milligrams of methylene blue chloride were added to 100 grams of the above solution and mixed by stirring until the viscosity of the solution had decreased to 5 cps. or less when measured with the No. 2 spindle at 60 R.P.M. on a Brookfield SynchroLectric Model LVF Viscometer. Following this, varying amounts of a sodium salt were added to aliquots of the heteropolysaccahride-methylene blue chloride solution. Varying amounts of a magnesium salt were also added to aliquots of the heteropolysaccharide-methylene blue chloride solution to determine the relative effect of the magnesium and sodium ion concentrations of the viscosity of the solution. After addition of salt to the solution, its viscosity was again measured with a Brookfield Synchro-Lectric Model LVF Viscometer. The results of these experiments are shown in the following Table in which the cation molarity is shown in column 1, while the resulting viscosity of the solution in centipoises is shown in column 2 for the addition of sodium ions and in column 3 for the addition of magnesium ions.

                  TABLE XIII                                                       ______________________________________                                         Concentration of Viscosity (cps)                                               Cation (Molar)   Na.sup.+    Mg.sup.+                                          ______________________________________                                         0.004            2.5         10                                                0.008            8           50                                                0.012            19          73                                                0.016            45          85                                                0.020            65          92                                                0.024            80          --                                                0.026            85          --                                                ______________________________________                                    

As shown in the above table, divalent cations, e.g., magnesium, are considerably more effective than monovalent cations, e.g., sodium, in restoring the viscosity of a solution of heteropolysaccharide which contains methylene blue chloride. Both of the salts were added as concentrated solutions, i.e., a 4.35 Molar solution of NaCl and a 4.12 Molar solution of MgCl₂. 6H₂ O.

Further experiments were performed to determine the effect of various anions on the viscosity of a solution of our heteropolysaccharide which contained methylene blue chloride. A test solution was made up in the manner previously described with regard to Table XIII by adding 200 mg. of methylene blue chloride to 100 gms. of a 0.5 percent by weight solution of heteropolysaccharide in distilled water. To aliquots of the test solution were added MgCl₂ . 6H₂ O, MgSO₄. 7H₂ O and Mg(NO₃)₂. 6H₂ O. The salts were added as crystals to the test solution and were mixed in by stirring. The results of these experiments are shown in the following Table XIV in which the molarity of the anion in the test solution is shown in column 1 and the resulting viscosity of the test solution is shown in columns 2-4 for the anions CL⁻, NO₃ ⁻ and SO₄ ⁻ ⁻. The viscosities were measured at about 25°C. and 60 R.P.M. using a Brookfield Synchro-Lectric Model LVF Viscometer.

                  TABLE XIV                                                        ______________________________________                                         Anion    Viscosity (cps)                                                       Molarity Cl          NO.sub.3 .sup.-                                                                            SO.sub.4 .sup.=                               ______________________________________                                         0.004    12          13          32                                            0.008    17.5        17.5        87.5                                          0.012    31          25          98                                            0.016    52.5        42.5        107.5                                         0.020    58          62          --                                            0.030    69          77          --                                            ______________________________________                                    

As demonstrated by the above data, the polyvalent anions, e.g., sulfate, are more effective than the monovalent anions such as chloride or nitrate in restoring the viscosity of the test solution. Thus, at the same molar concentration, the sulfate ion is more than twice as effective as the chloride or nitrate ion in terms of the resulting viscosity of the test solution in centipoises.

Still further experiments were conducted in which the combined presence of the cations and anions in a test solution were evaluated in terms of their effect in restoring the viscosity of a solution of our heteropolysaccharide containing methylene blue chloride. As in the experiments reported in Table XIV, methylene blue chloride was added to a 0.5 percent solution of heteropolysaccharide in distilled water to reduce its viscosity to 5 cps or less when measured with a Brookfield Synchro-Lectric Model LVF Viscometer. To aliquots of the test solution were added MgCl₂. 6H₂ O or MgSO₄. 7H₂ O in crystal form followed by mixing of the salts by stirring. Following this, the viscosities were measured with a Brookfield Synchro-Lectric Model LVF Viscometer. The data from these experiments is reported in Table XV in which the ionic strength (μ) is shown in column 1 and the viscosity in centipoises is shown in column 2 for MgCl₂. 6H₂ O and in column 3 for MgSO₄. 7H₂ O. The ionic strength (μ) is determined from the formula: μ = εmz² in which m is equal to the molarity of each ion in the salt and z is equal to the valence of each ion of the salt. The ionic strength is thus equal to the summation of the mz² values for each ion in the salt.

                  TABLE XV                                                         ______________________________________                                                    Viscosity (cps)                                                     (ionic strength)                                                                            MgCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2 O                                                                        MgSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O                               ______________________________________                                         0.008        13            16                                                  0.016        33            33                                                  0.024        65            65                                                  0.032        80            95                                                  0.040        85            108                                                 0.048        90             117.5                                              0.056        93            123                                                 ______________________________________                                    

From an analysis of the above data, it can be seen that there is a correlation between the ionic strength of the added salt and the resulting viscosity. Compare, for example, the results of Table XV with those of TAble XIV. The anions , Cl⁻ and SO₄ ⁻ ⁻, in Table XIV were added in the form of MgCl₂. 6H₂ O and MgSO₄. 7H₂ O salts -- the same salts as added in Table XV. By expressing the results in terms of ionic strength (μ) in Table XV, a correlation (though not 100% exact) is observed between the salts MgCl₂. 6H₂ O and MgSO₄. 7H₂ O in restoring the viscosity of the test solution. However, when the data are expressed merely in terms of the anion concentration, as in Table XIV, no correlation is evident between the Cl⁻ and SO₄ ⁻ ⁻ ions -- except that the SO₄ ⁻ ⁻ ion is much more effective at the same molarity.

The compatibility of Heteropolysaccharide-10 with cationic materials such as Methylene Blue chloride makes it useful as a thickener in applications which utilize cationic materials. Thus, for example, it may be used as a print paste thickener for textile printing. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Heteropolysaccharide-10, said heteropolysaccharide containing about 3% by weight of protein and about 97% by weight carbohydrate, the carbohydrate portion of which contains about 19% by weight of a uronic acid, about 39% by weight of glucose, about 29% by weight of galactose, and about 13% by weight of fucose, said heteropolysaccharide being compatible with Methylene Blue chloride dye, being substantially insoluble in dimethylsulfoxide and soluble in water, having an acetyl content of about 4.5%, and a specific rotation of [α]_(D) = + 106° (c 0.25, H₂ O). 